Automatic gas-valve.



H; W. ODOWD. AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1909.

Patented May- 9, 1916.

HENRY W. ODOWD, F PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 .WILLIAM M. CRANE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC GAS-VALVE.

msaoaoj Application filed February 27, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. ODowo,

a citizen of the United States, and a resiconstruction of the character referred to which will reduce to a negligible minimum the amount of gas remaining in the valve chamber when the valve is in its closed position; which will be proof against leakage;

' whose parts shall be few in number and easily accessible; and which shall be simple and durable in construction and economical and efficient in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in'part be made clear from the following description.

The invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, combinations, and features of construction herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, which are referred to herein and form a part hereof, illustrate two embodiments of the inven tion, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a valve mechanism constructed in accordance with certain features of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan of the same taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a casing 1 adapted to be secured in communication with a gas supply pipe and containing, preferably in its lower portion, a gas passage which. as shown, is divided by a diaphragm 2 into compartments 3 and 4. An important feature of the invention relates to the means for establishing and interrupting communication between said compartments. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated ports5 and 6 are preferably formed in the respective upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Serial No. 480,387.

portions of these compartments, a flange 7 preferably outlining one of said ports'and extending slightly above the port and forming a vali'e seat. As shown, also, a flange 8, preferably with its upper surface in the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the flanged valve seat 7, encircles the casing 1 on its inner face.

Means are provided to operate on the valve seat 7 and thus establish and cut ofi the supply of gas passing through the mechanism. Vhile said means may be formed and arranged in various Ways and of different materials, preferably it consists of a member consisting of a valve portion proper, and an extension thereof, the whole forming a diaphragm 10, preferably of flexible material, such as leather, which extends to and is seated upon the flange 8, where, in the embodiment illustrated, it is tightly engaged by a cap piece 12 of the casing, said cap piece, as shown, being exteriorly threaded to correspond with the interior threading of the upper part of said casing.

Said diaphragm or valve 10 is suitably fastened to a stem 13 extending through said cap piece 12, and preferably a rigid member 14 lies above and holds the valve, when in its seated position, more closely to the seat. Preferably, also, a spring 15 is coiled about said stem 13 and is arranged to engage said member 14 and also the lower surface of said cap'piece 12, thereby keeping said valve 10 normally in closed position. It will be seen that said valve diaphragm forms the upper wall of a chamber which" communicates with said compartments 3 and 4 and which varies in extent with the operation of the valve, whose flexibility permits of its operation. and that said chamber, when the valve is in its seated position, is of very slight volume, thus preventing the accumulation of gas and air in any material amount in said valve chamber and thus obviating the evil elfects of such accumulation, such as back firing. It will also be noted that as said diaphragm is tightly fastened to the flange 8, leakage into the casing above said valve is prevented. Furthermore, as will be apparent, the valve is kept always flexible and in good order by its operation, and ridges and indentations. which might in time permit leakage, are avoided.

Means are provided for automatically operating the valve 10; and, while, so far as I I certa n features of my invention are concerned, any suitable means may be provided,

preferably, as shown, a lever'17 is'engaged by said stem at a point without the casing 1, aid lever pivoting on the fulcrum 18.

This lever 17 preferably is controlled in its operation by a nut 20, which is threaded on' the stem 13 and may be ad'usted at will to determine the operative p sition of the lever, and theextent to which the valve will be opened by the lever. It will be apparent that said lever may be operated by placing thereon or removing therefrom a weight, as,

for instance; a cooking or other utensil,

when said valve is used in connection with a stove.

struction shown and described a form of valve mechanism is provided WhlCll 1s s1mple, highly efiicient, and thoroughly safe;

and whichis economical in construction and operation. Other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.v

It is to be understood that my invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the preciseconstruction shown nor to any particular construction by which. the same has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the details of the .parts without departing from the mainprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

claim? 1. Anarticle-controlled valve mechanism. including in combination a casing provided with a gas-inlet and with agas-outlet; a partition dividing said casing horizontally into an upper anda lower compartment; a second partition disposed in angular rela-' tion to said horizontal partition and dividing the lower compartment into a gas inlet chamber and -a gas outlet chamber; said horizontal partition being provided with openings co'mmunieating with the gas inlet and gas outlet hambers, respectively; a flange disposedon the upper portion of said horizontal partition adjacent said casing; a

flange being also arranged around the inlet opening in said partition to form a valve;

seat; a cap member forming a closure for the .upper compartment, and having a flanged extension disposed within the, casing; a flexible diaphragm secured between from the valve seat;

It will be seem that by reason of the con-v the flanged extension of the cap-member and the flange on said partition; a. plunger secured at one end to said flexible diaphragm, theother end passing through said cap-member; a spring-member disposed between 'said cap-member and diaphragm, and

normally holding said diaphragm on the valve-seat; and an article-actuated lever connected with the .outerend ofthe' plunger, g-for positively raising 2. An article-controlled valvblinechanism the I diaphragm including in. combination a casing'provided v with a gas-inlet and with a gas-outlet; a

partition dividing said casing'horizontally into an upper and a lower compartment a second partition disposed in angular relation to said horizontalpartition, and dividchamber' and a gas' outlet chamber; said 'ing the lower compartment into a .gasinlet horizontal partition being provided --With openings communicating with the, gas 7 inlet and gas outlet chambers, respect-iv a; 1'

- flange disposed on the upper portion 9 Said horizontal partition adjacent said caSing f. a flangebeing'also arranged around the in:

let opening in said partition to forma valve seat; a cap member forming a closure for the upper compartment, and having a.

flanged extension disposed within the cas I tween said cap-member and diaphragm, and.

normally holding saii diaphragm 01113116;-

valve-seat;v an article-actuated lever connected with the outer end of the plunger, forpositively raising the diaphragm from the valve seat; and means disposed on the outer end of plunger for regulating the flow of gas through said openings when the lever has been actuated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

HENRY W. ODQWD. Witnesses:

' LEWIS E.- LENT,

FRANK Lnvmuon. 

